The Cincinnati Reds have lost outfielder to the Atlanta Braves after designating him for assignment on August 17. Atlanta claimed him off waivers, officially ending his tenure with Cincinnati.
The Reds explained that the move was intended to give Fraley a better chance at playing time elsewhere, as his role diminished following Noelvi Marte’s transition to right field.
Fraley first joined Cincinnati in spring training of 2022 as part of the trade with Seattle that sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez to the Mariners in exchange for Fraley, Justin Dunn, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips.
Over his first two seasons with the Reds, he put up solid numbers, batting .257 with a .341 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage, while tallying 54 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases in 179 games.
In 2024, he hit .277 but saw his power and walk rate decline. This season, he’s batting .232 with a .387 slugging percentage, though his strong walk rate has helped him reach a .332 OBP.
Primarily used in a platoon role and occasionally as a late-game defensive replacement, Fraley’s fit with Atlanta remains to be seen. The Braves, however, could keep him under team control through 2026 if he carves out a role on their roster.
By removing Fraley, Cincinnati opened a 40-man roster spot. While they may leave it vacant for now, the September roster expansion provides an opportunity to add a Triple-A player who could help fuel their playoff push.
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